Baldur’s Gate 3 Backgrounds

Backgrounds are an important gameplay aspect for your Characters in Baldur’s Gate 3, that grant free skills and determine what inspires them! When you create a custom character you can pick their Background, along with Class and Race. Backgrounds add flavor to your game and present new dialogue options.

Table of Contents

• What is the Best Background
• All Backgrounds

What is the Best Background in BG3?

The Best Background for your character in BG3 is the one that grants you skills that are based on your primary ability! For example if Wisdom is your primary ability, then the Folk Hero Background is the best for you. Folk Hero grants the Animal Handling and Survival skills that are both based on Wisdom. The higher your Wisdom is, the more chances you have to succeed in Animal Handling or Survival Checks. You can always pick a Background that offers skills that do not rely on your primary ability to succeed if you wish. To be effective though you should get at least one skill that is based on your Primary Ability!

All Backgrounds in Baldur’s Gate 3

In total there are twelve(12) Backgrounds in BG3! Each Background offers two skills that will assist you in your journey. Picking the right background for your character can make the game a lot more enjoyable. The available BG3 Backgrounds are:

Background	Skills	Best for Class	Description
Acolyte	Insight(Wisdom), +3 to insight Cheks Religion(Intelligence), +1 to Religion Checks	Cleric, Druid, Wizard	You have spent your life in service to a temple, learning sacred rites and providing sacrifices to the god or gods you worship. Serving the gods and discovering their sacred works will guide you to greatness.
Charlatan	Deception(Charisma), +2 to Deception Checks Sleight of Hand(Dexterity), +3 to Sleight of Hand Checks	Bard, Fighter, Monk, Paladin, Ranger, Rogue, Sorcerer, Warlock	You’re an expert in manipulation, prone to exaggeration and more than happy to profit from it. Bending the truth and turning allies against each other will lead to greater success down the road.
Criminal	Deception(Charisma), +2 to Deception Checks Stealth(Dexterity), +3 to Stealth Checks	Bard, Fighter, Monk, Paladin, Ranger, Rogue, Sorcerer, Warlock	You have a history of breaking the law and survive by leveraging less-than-legal connections. Profiting from criminal enterprise will lead to greater opportunities in the future.
Entertainer	Acrobatics(Dexterity), +3 to Acrobatics Checks Performance(Charisma), +2 to Performance Checks	Bard, Fighter, Monk, Paladin, Ranger, Rogue, Sorcerer, Warlock	You live to sway and subvert your audience, engaging common crowds and high society alike. Preserving art and bringing joy to the hapless and downtrodden heightens your charismatic aura.
Folk Hero	Animal Handling(Wisdom), +3 to Animal Handling Checks Survival(Wisdom), +3 to Survival Checks	Cleric, Druid	You’re the champion of the common people, challenging tyrants and monsters to protect the helpless. Saving innocents in imminent danger will make your legend grow.
Guild Artisan	Insight(Wisdom), +3 to Insight Checks Persuasion(Charisma), +2 to Persuasion Checks	Cleric, Druid, Bard, Paladin, Sorcerer, Warlock	Your skill in a particular craft has earned you membership in a mercantile guild, offering privileges and protection while engaging in your art. Repairing and discovering rare crafts will bring new inspiration.
Haunted One(Dark Urge only)	Medicine(Wisdom), + to Medicine Checks Intimidation(Charisma), +1 to Intimidation Checks	Cleric, Druid, Bard, Paladin, Sorcerer, Warlock	A wicked moment, person, or thing that cannot be slain by sword or spell haunts your mind and flickers in your peripheral vision. You carry it wherever your adventure takes you – or perhaps it carries you.
Noble	History(Intelligence), +1 to History Checks Persuasion(Charisma), +2 to Persuasion Checks	Bard, Paladin, Sorcerer, Warlock, Wizard	You were raised in a family among the social elite, accustomed to power and privilege. Accumulating renown, power, and loyalty will raise your status.
Outlander	Athletics(Strength), +5 to Performance Checks Survival(Wisdom), +3 to Survival Checks	Barbarian, Cleric, Druid, Fighter, Paladin,	You grew up in the wilds, learning to survive far from the comforts of civilisation. Surviving unusual hazards of the wild will enhance your prowess and understanding.
Sage	Arcana(Intelligence), +1 to Arcana Checks History(Intelligence), +1 to History Checks	Wizard	You’re curious and well-read, with an unending thirst for knowledge. Learning about rare lore of the world will inspire you to put this knowledge to greater purpose.
Soldier	Athletics(Strength), +5 to Performance Checks Intimidation(Charisma), +1 to Intimidation Checks	Barbarian, Bard, Fighter, Paladin, Sorcerer, Warlock	You are trained in battlefield tactics and combat, having served in a militia, mercenary company, or officer corps. Show smart tactics and bravery on the battlefield to enhance your prowess.
Urchin	Sleight of Hand(Dexterity), +3 to Sleight of Hand Checks Stealth(Dexterity), +3 to Stealth Checks	Fighter, Monk, Ranger, Rogue	After surviving a poor and bleak childhood, you know how to make the most out of very little. Using your street smarts bolsters your spirit for the journey ahead.

You can only pick a Background for a Custom Character and you cannot change it after character creation! Origin Characters have their own Background which you cannot change.